Carpet-stretcher



(No Model.)

C. Lf. CAMP.

GARPET STRETGHEB..

1\I .-e,29,13b. Patented 001;. 27, 1,885.V

afnam/for,

- `by CL Omnwm,

UNITED STATES 'A'TeNT @ritroso CYRUS L. CAMP, OF TREMON T, ILLINOIS.

CARPET-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 329,136, dated October 27, 1885.

Application filed Miu- 4, 18:5. Scri:|ll\"o.16l,406. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CYRUs L. CAMP, of Tremont, iu the county of Tazewell, in the State of Illinois, have invented an Improved Carinvention; Fig. 2, a central vertical longiiudinal section of the saine; Fig. 3, .view of a detail of the device.

This invention is in the line of carpetstretchers in which a toggle-jointed frame is adapted by the suitable anchorage of one end of the jointed statt' and the depression of the jointed portion to engage the serrated bar at its other end with the carpet and push the same into place and hold it until tacked.

lVhat I design to accomplish by means of my construction is to form a carpet-stretcher which shall be adapted to have its fixed end anchored by abutting against the wall at the side of the room opposite to that where the tackingis being done, to form a carpet-stretcher the frame of which, when taken apart, can be used for quilting-bars, and also to form a carpet-stretcher generally improved in regard to durability and ease in using.

My device consists, essentially, of two bars fixed parallel to each other and at such a distance apart as to receive between them a third bar, which is adapted to be longitudinally reciprocated by means of a toggle-joint pivoted at one end to said single bar and at the other end to the two united bars. To the outer end of said single bar the serrated head is fixed, and to adapt the stretcher for any sized room` in reasonable limits- I have the pivotal connection of the togglejoint to the two bars ca pable of adjustment relative to said two bars.

In the drawings, B B represent the two parallel bars held at the required distance apart by the strap .G and the yoke F. Between these two bars is the movable bar C, held iu place by the strap G and center portion of the yoke F. To clearly designate all these bars, I shall call the two bars B the twin bars, and the bar C the telescopic77 bar. At the outer end of the telescopic bar C is the serrated head D, provided with the seat D2 and the bolt L for suitably securing the same to said bar. The tack holders E, which are formed of thin, elastic strap metal, are fastened at one end of each to the serrated head D, and are provided with the deep notches E, in which the tacks are suspended, being hung by their heads. The elasticity of these tackholders permits the tacks to be driven into the iioor, and when pulled back from beneath the tack heads to spring up to their usual horizontal position. The socket M, to which the toggle-joint end A is pivoted, is secured to the telescopic bar by the same bolt, L, that holds the head thereto. The said end portion, A', of the toggle-jointis made quite short, as shown, so as to bring the joint thereof near to the individual who is operating the carpetstretcher, and thereby render it more easy for him to raise and lower the same. The portion A2 of the togglejoint staff A is pivoted at its extremity to the socket N, formed at the center of the yoke F. The collars F of said yoke, in which the twin bars B are adapted to easily slide, are held rigidly at any desired points on said twin bars by means of the setscrews Ff".

In using this carpet stretcher the toggle` joint staff A is permitted to rest dat upon the telescopic bar C, the set screws F2 are loosened, and the said telescopic bar pulled out or in between the twin bars until, when the extremity B of the twin bars abuts against one wall ofthe room, theA serrated head D is close to the opposite wall. Then the jointed part of the toggle-joint staff is raised until the head D has retreated far enough to secure the required amount of slack in the carpet, and .the teeth D are pressed downward, if found necessary, to more securely engage them with f the carpet. Said jointed part of the staff A is lifted either by taking hold thereof in the grip-notches Por ofa suitable knob or drawerpull. A tack being hung in each notch Eof the tack-holders E, the toggle-joint staff is pressed iirmly down until fiat on the telescopic bar C, and the carpet is stretched into place. The tacks are then driven through the carpet, and the same is secure. It will be noticed that when the toggle -joint staff is at upon the telescopic barv its hinge H is below the level of the pivots in the sockets M and N,

IOO

and is thereby perfectly locked against any back-pull of the carpet.

. I am aware that prior to my invention carpet-stretchers have been made with two parallel bars having between them a third carrying the serrated head, and provided with various means, includinga toggle-joint, for moving said third bar relative to the others; hence Ido not broadly claim the same. I do not know, however, of any such carpet-stretcher that is adapted for different sizes of rooms by having the toggle-joint adapted to be readily secured at one end to any point of the twin bars.

By loosening the various fastenings which hold together the component parts ofthe carpet-stretcher, the two bars B B, the bar O, and the staff A can be taken apart and resecured together by means of any suitable clamps into a quadrilateral frame. Upon this quadrilateral frame the cloth can be stretched which it is desired to quilt.

As a quilting-frame and carpetstretcher are each necessary in household work and areeaeh somewhat bulky, by thus combining the two in a single article expense and room are saved.

What I claim as my invention, and for which I desire Letters Patent, is as follows, to wit:

l. rlhe twin bars B, the yoke F, encircling eachv of said bars, andhaving setscrews for holding said yoke in place upon said bars, the telescopic bar G, removable between said twin bars, and having the serrated head D attached to the outer end thereof, and the toggle-joint staff A, hinged at one end to said serrated head and at the other end to said yoke, substantially as and for the purpose specied.

2. 'The twin bars B, the strap Gr, and the yoke F for uniting said twin bars, said yoke being adapted to be secured at any point along said twin bars by means of the set-screws F2, the telescopic bar C, removable between said twin bars, the serrated head D, having the socket M and the tack-holders E, and the bolt L for fastening said head to the outer end of said telescopic bar, in combination with the toggle-joint staff A, hinged at its ends to said socket and said yoke, and being provided wit-h the grip-notches, as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have hereuntol set my hand this 8th day of April, 1885.'

l A. B. UPHAM,

ARTHUR KEITHLEY. 

